Smoke purifier



Dec. 15, 1942. F. H. cuLLEN SMOKE PURIFIER Filed May 8, 1959 INVENTOR- FldrcwCwZZen/j ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. l5, 1942 UNITED STATES .PTELNT OFFICE SMOKE PURIFIER Francis H. Cullen, Philadelphia, Pa., Application Mays, 1939, serial No. 272,324

13 claims. 4(31. 1an-17s) My invention relates to a new and useful smoke purier, particularly adapted for use in connection with tobacco smoking devices and may be a part of a tobacco pipe` or attached thereto, or used as a cigarl or cigarette holder. This application is, in part,'a continuation of my co-pending applications, Ser. No. 98,542, dated August 29, 1936, and Ser. No. 165,451, dated September 24, 1937, said co-pending applications having matured as Patents No. 2,190,312 and No. 2,274,889 dated February 13, 1940, and March 3, 1942,

respectively. Y

The purpose of ,the present invention is to provide improved means for condensing the oils and other objectionable substances from the smoke fumes and then passing the smoke through a liquid bath to further condense, cool, sweeten and purify said smoke so as to prevent what is commonly known as tongue burning or biting and thus give the smoker a pure, cool and sweet smoke. v

' The general object of thevinvention is to provide a novel construction of purifier that includes a cylinder to form a condensing chamber and also function as a measuring device whereby the exact quantity of liquid for use in the purier may be predetermined.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cylinder constituting a reil tube or liquid container or cartridge and forming a condensing chamber when placed in the tobacco smoking appliance, Said cylinder may be produced from specially treated paper, such as parchment paper, glass, wood, plastics, metal or any other `suitable material. When the cylinder is to be utilized as a rell tube in addition to its use in forming the condensing chamber, said cylinder' must be suchl that it can be sealed and carried in a pocket or purse ready for use without the possibility of the liquid leaking therefrom. vA

cylinder used as a rell tube may also act as a receptacle for the liquid that is drained from the purifier after said liquid has become discolored by the smoke fumes, the cylinder to be mounted or assembled so that it can be easily removed without soiling the fingers ofthe smoker and discarded. c v c j Another object ofthe inventionis to provide an indication means or index, such as a mark or ring, colored `or plain, at acertain point on the mouthpiece where the latter is made of glass or other transparent material to indicate the volume of liquid to be placed in the purier.

Another object of the invention is to provide the eduction tube with an indication means, such as a lug or collar, where the mouthpiece is made of opaque or translucent material so that the smoker may know that by lling the hollow or chambered mouthpiece to the indication means he has sufcient liquid to s eal the outlet opening within the liquid chamber.

Another object of this invention is to utilize a small hollow straight or curved stem to a tobacco pipe which stem has a condensing chamber contained Within the discharge chamber that alsoV encloses an outlet tube from the condensing chamber, said tube extending underneath the tobacco bowl with the outer opening in the outlet tube sealed with liquid.

A further object of this invention is to construct the parts of the purifier so that a relatively small condensing chamber is provided by a cylinder which functions as a baffle to hold back the liquid in a chamber underneath the tobacco bowl and thereby keep the outlet tube sealed with liquid when the pipe is smoked in a horizontal position.

A further object of the invention is to utilize the rear end of the cylinder as a trap to pocket and retain the liquid .and prevent any great amount of said liquid from reaching the forward or mouthpiece end of the pipe when the latter is inverted.

A further object of the invention is to arrange or position ,the port or lateral openings in the induction and eduction tubes so that any small amount of liquid which may reach said tubes will be prevented from entering port openings and flowing through the tubes.

A further objectv of the invention is to form an angular induction tube in which vthe opposite ends are offsetrelative to each other whereby the size of the liquid holding chamber under thetobacco bowl of a pipe may be increased without changing the dimensions or configuration of the pipe itself. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of purifier whereinthe cylin-` V deris directly or indirectly carried by the educ-v tion tube and to so form the cylinder thatV as the mouthpiece is withdrawn a portion of said cylinder will engage a portion of the pipe stem and form a joint to prevent liquid entering the mouthpiece as said liquid is flowed into the cylinder. f y

5 With the above and other objects in view, this Yinvention consists of the detals of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth andl then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a smoking pipe constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end of a modified form of cylinder.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of a modified form of purifier.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a separate condensing cylinder and eduction tube, the latter being constructed as a holder and the cylinder shown with a cap or closure so as to be used as a refill tube.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the eduction tube holder.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal Asectional view of an other form of pipe embodying my invention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 8-8 of Fig. l.

In carrying out my invention as herein ernbodied I represents a pipe bowl with a chamber II to receive tobacco to be smoked as illustrated in Fig. .7 or to receive an insertible bowl I2 in which the tobacco is to be placed.

The bowl III, in both forms, is carried by a stem I3 the interior of which provides a discharge chamber communicating with the chamber II through an opening I4, and in the construction illustrated in Fig. l, also communicating with the chamber of the insertible bowl I2 through an opening I in the bottom thereof.

A stem extension or sleeve I5 is detachably connected to the stem I3 by a slip or slide joint I1 and said stem extension or sleeve has an internal circumferential shoulder I8 facing the bowl Il. To the stem extension'or sleeve I6 is detachably connected a mouthpiece I9 by a slip or slide joint. This mounthpiece has a rather large chamber 2|! in its inner end from which chamber leads a draft duct 2l to the outer end of said mouth piece.

The mouth piece I9 carries an eduction tube 22 having its bore in communication with the draft duct 2I and said eduction. tube has ports or lateral openings 23 spaced a considerable distance from the end wall 24 so that when the pipe is inverted and any liquid enters the chamber such liquid cannot reach the said ports and enter the eduction tube to flow into the draft duct through which the liquid could then be drawn into the smokers mouth.A

As illustrated in Figs. l, 4 and '7, a cylinder 25 is carried by or formed as an integral part of the eduction tube 22. This cylinder is closed at its front end by wall |25 while the outer end is open, as at |25, and is fashioned to provide an inner portion 26 of small diameter, an intermediate portion 21 of larger diameter thereby forining an internal shoulder 28, and an outer portion or lip v29 forming an external shoulder.

When assembled the outer portion or lip 29 is spaced from the inner surface of the stem or its extension to permit the passage of smoke laden air between them as will be hereinafter more fully explained. As shown in'Fig. 3, a cylinder' 25 can be provided in which the lip 29 is of such size as to snugly fit the interiors of the pipe stem and its extension. In such a case smoke apertures 3l are provided and these aperthis invention appertains may understand how tures are formed by holes, fluted openings, channels or otherwise.

In the cylinder 25 is a partition 32 mounted in the intermediate portion thereof and resting against the internal shoulder 28. An angular or offset induction tube 33 has one end offset relative to the other as shown herein and one of these ends is entered in the opening I4 while the other end passes through the partition into the condensing chamber |21 provided between said partition and the closed end of the cylinder. The part of the cylinder ahead of the partition 32 forms a trap I28.

The extremity of the end which projects into the condensing chamber may be c'losed by abutting the closed end of the cylinder as shown in Figs. l and 7 in which case ports or lateral openv ings 34 are formed in the induction tube so as to be spaced from all of the enclosing walls of the condensing chamber and thus prevent any liquid that might reach the condensing chamber from entering said induction tube and ilowing into the tobacco bowl.

An equivalent arrangement can be had by providing a, boss 35 on the inside of the closed end of the cylinder as illustrated in Fig. 4 and terminating the adjacent end of the induction tube short of said boss so that a space is left between them constituting a port or lateral opening 34.

An outlet tube C35 has one end projected through the partition 32 and may terminate at the inner face of the latter so as to communicate with the condensing chamber and the other or outlet end of said outlet tube is positioned in the liquid chamber 31 which may be any part or all of the stem between the cylinder and pipe bowl, or a straight or tapered opening beneath the pipe bowl as in Fig. '1, or an,y opening beyond what is the bottom of the tobacco chamber in the bowl as shown in Fig. 7. The liquid chamber 31 functions as or is, in reality, the discharge chamber. This liquid and or discharge chamber is contained within the housing formed by the assembly of the chambered pipe bowl, hollow stem and chambercd mouthpiece, except for the top part of the pipe bowl containing the chamber for the tobacco. For identication purposes this chamber 31 located underneath the tobacco chamber in the pipe bowl and in the hollow stem near said pipe bowl and which contains the liquid when the smoking appliance is in proper position for smoking, is called the liquid chamber.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 an eduction tube 38, similar to the one previously described, is provided and used in the same way as the other. On the outer end of the eduction tube is a holder 39 of suitable shape and size to snugly receive the smaller closed end portion 4] of a separate or independent cylinder 4I. The holder 39 has apertures or cut-out portions 42 so that the cylinder may be ejected by the use Vof a finger or instrument inserted in one of the apertures. In order that the inlet ports 43 of the eduction tube may be spaced from the wall 24 of the mouth piece when in use said ports 43 may be proportionately spaced to prevent liquid entering said tube.

Like the other cylinder, this independent one is fashioned to provide an intermediate portion 4t larger than the end portion 40 to provide the internal shoulder 45, and a still larger or lip portion 4E to form the external shoulder 41.

When the cylinder is used as a refill tube or container for the liquid to refill the liquid chamber of the smoking appliance, a cap or cover 48 is provided that fits over' and closes the'open lip end to prevent accidental escape of the'liquid from the cylinder. 'Ihis cylinder is of a size to holdjust the proper quantity of liquid to rell the liquid chamber in the pipe.: Y

With a liquid in the chamber 31 the outlet end of the outlet tube 36 will be constantly covered 0r liquid sealed during the timeV the pipe is being smoked and the cylinder will function as a bailie. to prevent any large quantity of liquid iiowingv towards or into the mouth piece when the pipe is smoked in a horizontal position and to pocket the liquidA when the vpipe is suddenly inverted from a horizontal to a vertical position, that is, with the mouth piece at the bottom.

As the pipe is drawn upon, smoke from the tobacco will travel through the induction tube 33 into the condensing chamber between the. closed end of the cylinder and the partition `32. Since the condensing chamber is relatively cool because of the large air space surrounding it, the smoke entering said condensing chamber will be cooled and the heavier oils and other substances will be precipitated.

From the condensing chamber, the smoke travels through the outlet ytube 3B and the liquid in4 the chamber 31 where such smoke is further purified, sweetened and relieved of other impurities or undesirable constituents of .the Vburning tobacco. After passing through the liquid, lthe smoke travels through the large air chamber provided in the stem, its extension and the mouth piece compartment. This will help reduce the temperature of. the smoke before .entering the eduction tube 22 and the bore 2| of the mouth 1 piece on its way to the smokers mouth. Due tothe Various treatments given the smoke it will be pure, sweet and cool when it is drawn into the mouth and will not give a biting or stinging effect to the tongue, mouth or throat. Y

Should the pipe be inverted, as when placed in a pocket, purse or the like, partof theliquid will ilow into the open lend of the cylinder or thev trap |28 ahead of the partition 32 and the condensing chamber |21. Because of the position of Y the ports 34 any small amount of liquid that might enter the condensing chamber through the outlet tube cannot pass into the induction tube and enter the bowl and consequently the tobacco cannot be dampened by the sealing liquid. Likewise, should any liquid flow past the cylinder and into the chamber 23 in the mouth piece such liquid cannot enter the eduction tube 22 because of the space between the ports 23 and the walls surrounding said eductiontube.

After the pipe has been smoked long enough to discolor the sealing liquid the parts of the stem and mouthpiece can be separated and the old liquid poured out and replaced by a fresh supply. The fresh liquid can be poured directly into the stem so as to ilow into the chamber 31 although it is preferred that the renewal liquid be placed in the cylinder first so as to measure the proper quantity and then poured from the cylinder into the stem through which it will ilow intothe liquid chamber.

If the cylinder is of the type illustrated in Fig. 5, the old or used one is withdrawn and discarded and the liquid from the new one poured into the liquid chamber and said new cylinder then potically all Within the liquid chamber and then dev the cylinder is of the independent type it can now be withdrawn and discarded.

VFrom the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a liquid holding pipe that is compact, relatively small in size for this kind of a smoking appliance, light in weight and highly eicient in operation. Because of the particular arrangement and combination of elements, the appliance can be carried about with the'liquid therein and regardless of theposition in which the appliance is placed saidliquid will not enter the induction tube and dampen the tobacco or the eduction tube to reach the smokers' mouth.

To further reduce the probability of liquid reaching the smokers mouth a frusta-conical guard 52 is carried by the mouth piece and extends towards the cylinder with ample opening for the smoke to pass. This guard encircles the induction tube 22V` and the larger end meets the inner surface of the walls of the mouthpiece to form a liquid tight jointwhile the smaller end is spaced from the eduction tube to permit smoke to pass between them. Any liquid flowingthrough the discharge chamber rearwardly of the cylinder when the pipe is inverted will enter the' l space between said guard and the wallsV ofY the stem or mouth piece and be pocketed so as not to enter the chamber of said mouthpiece. As soon as the pipe is returned to a horizontal position or is declined towards the bowl, the liquid will ilow back'to the liquid chamber or it can be poured out. The guard may be a permanent part of the pipe, particularly the mouth piece, or it can be forme-d as a separate element and removably mounted in said mouth piece. f

The space about the guardY which will pocket the liquid as above described can be used for measuring the quantity of liquid to be placed in the liquid chamber of the purifier. In such an in-l stance, the liquid can be run into the space about the guard where it will be visible and readily determinable when a suflicient amount is present. Then this measured liquid can be readily placed in the purier To utilize the guard as a measuring device, and not have the cylinder in the smokers way, when he is pouring the liquid into the space between the guard and the stem, the mouth piece eduction rtube 22 has a closed tapered rear end 53 to telescope the tube extending from the. forward end of the cylinder, thereby closing said cylinders forward end, so that when the mouthpiece is withdrawn the cylinder remains in the stem. When the cylinder is intended to be Withdrawn with the mouth piece, the construction could be like that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, that is, thev cylinder is attached to the eduction tube or to a holder which is a part of the Ieduction tube.

In order to eliminate any chance of the induction and outlet tubes becoming displaced when the kcylinder is withdrawn, a smallrsupport 49 can be provided for said tubes as shown inV Figss 1 and 8. Since the mouth piece |9 has a chami ber 20 said mouth piece can be used as a liquid measuring device and if such mouthpiece is of glass or-other transparentmaterial an indication means or indexv 56 is provided that will assist the smoker in determining when there is a sufficient quantity of liquid in the mouth piece chamber to seal the outlet tube within the liquid chamber upon pouring the liquid into the purifier from the mouth piece. The indication means. or index in this case may be a plain or colored mark or a circumferential groove in the mouth piece or a separate ring placed about the mouthpiece or some equivalent thereof. In addition an indication means 5l may be placed on the eduction tube 22 and could be a lug, collar or equivalent thereof. v

Where the mouthpiece is'transparent theliquid entering the chamber of the mouth piece will be visible and the smoker can tell as soon as it reaches the index 5d which will be all that is needed to seal the exit of the outlet tube or the smoker can View the indication means 5l through the open end `of said mouth piece and when the-liquid-has reached this point, he will know that he has a sufficient Yamount to seal the outlet tube. Furthermore, the indication means 50 may show when the smoking appliance contains the proper volume of liquid.

Of coursel do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, as-these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

l. A smoke purier comprising, in combination, a smoking appliance including a bowl having a tobacco chamber, a hollow sectional stem having a bore which extends some distance under the tobacco chamber to provide a liquid chamber, said bowl having an opening offset from the centre of the stem to provide a communication between the interiors of the bowl and the stem, the inner section of said stem fashioned to provide an interior shoulder, a chambered mouthpiece having a duct leading from the chamber, an eduction tube carried by the mouth piece and communicating with its duct, said eduction tube having its outer end closed and provided with ports spaced from the end wall of the chamber, a cylinder carried by the outer end of the eduction tube and located in the hollow stem, said cylinder having a closed end and an open end, the latter facing the pipe bowl, said cylinder being fashioned to provide a small inner portion and a larger intermediate portion forming an internal shoulder and a still larger outer end lip portion forming an external shoulder to cooperate with the shoulder in the stem when the cylinder is partly withdrawn, said lip portion being `slightly spaced from the walls of the stem to permit thepassage of smoke, a partition in the cylinder engaging the internal shoulder and dividing thev interior into a closed condensing chamber and a trap, an induction tube having offset ends with one end in the opening leading from the interior of the bowl and the other end projected through the partition into the condensing chamber, said other end being closed at its terminal and having ports spaced from the walls of the condensing chamber, and an outlet tube projected through the partition and extending into the liquid chamber.

2. A smoke purifier consisting of the hollow stem of a smoking appliance which appliance includes a tobacco holding chamber, a mouthpiece acum-42 detachably mounted on one end of said stem, a chamber at the other end of said stem, an eduction tube carried by the .mouthpiecey and projecting into the stem, said eduction tube having lateral ports spaced'from all surrounding walls, a cylinder carried'by the eduction tube and positioned in the hollow stem, means to divide the interior of the cylinder into a condensing chamber and a trap, an induction tube having one end in ther condensing chamberV and the other end connected with said tobacco holding chamber, the terminal of the endin the condensing chamber being closed and providedwith lateral ports adjacent thereto, and kan outlet tube leading from the condensing chamber to the `chamber at the end of the stem opposite the mouth piece.

3 The structure in claim 2 wherein a liquid seal is provided for the outlet end of the outlet tube.

4. A smoke purier comprising, in combination, a pipe including a bowl and hollow stem with a liquid chamber under the Vbowl in communication with? the interior of the stem, a chambered mouth piece mounted on the inner end of the stem, an eduction tube carried by the mouth piece and having lateraly ports spaced from the end wall of the mouth piece chamber, a cylinder carried by the eduction tube and closing the outer terminal thereof, said cylinder being positioned in the hollow stem and acting as a partial liquid baffle between the liquid chamber and mouth piece while allowing the passage of smoke, a partition in the cylinder dividing the interior into a closed condensing chamber and an open ended trap, means to provide a communication between the pipe bowl and the condensing chamber, means to provide a communication between the condensing and liquid chambers, and a liquid normally in the liquid chamber and nowable into the trap to prevent any large quantity reachingV the mouthpiece when the pipe is inverted and assist in the removal of discolored liquid. v

5. The structure in claim 4 wherein the hollow stem has an internal shoulder and the cylinder has an external shoulder to stop said cylinder when partially withdrawn from the hollow stem.

6. A smoke purifier comprising, in combination, a pipe including a bowl and sectional hollow stem with a liquid chamber under the bowl in communication with the interior of the stem, a chambered mouth piece removably connected to the inner end of the stem, an eduction tube carried by the mouth piece and having lateral ports spaced from the end wall oi said mouth piece chamber, a cylinder, means to removably attach said cylinder to the eduction tube, said cylinder being positioned in the hollow stem, a partition in said cylinder to divide the latter into a closed condensing chamber and an open ended liquid trap, an internal stop means on the stem, means externally of the cylinder to cooperate with the stop means to arrest the outward movement of the cylinder when the mouth piece is withdrawn, means of communication between the condensing chamber and pipe bowl, means of communication between the condensing and liquid chambers, and a liquod in the liquid chamber.

7. A smoke puriiier for tobacco smoking appliances consisting of Va housing containing a condensing chamber within a discharge chamber between the tobacco holding chamber and the mouth end of saidsmoking appliance, and having induction and eduction tubes and an outlet tube from the condensing chamber, said outlet tube being located wholly below the induction tube and extending towards the tobacco chamber, and a liquid to seal the outer end of said outlet tube.

8. In a device of the kind described, a body containing a discharge chamber, a cylinder provided with means other than liquid to divide the interior thereof into a condensing chamber and a trap, the condensing chamber and the trap being contained wholly within the discharge chamber, and an eduction tube to carry said cylinder and said eduction tube having an opening to the rear of the trap in relation to the direction of smoke travel.

9. A smoking appliance consisting of a housing comprising a tobacco holding chamber, stem and mouth piece containing a condensing chamber and a discharge chamber between the tobacco holding chamber and mouth end of said smoking appliance, an induction tube leading to the condensing chamber from the tobacco chamber, an outlet tube leading from the condensing chamber towards the tobacco chamber, an eduction tube leading from the discharge chamber to the mouth piece, and a support for the induction and outlet tubes with the outlet tube located wholly below the induction tube.

10. In a device of the kind described, a condensing cylinder provided with an outlet, a liquid to seal said outlet, an induction tube having a portion thereof within the cylinder and for connection with a pipe bowl to direct smoke from the bowl into the cylinder on its way to the outlet, and a boss protruding from the inner end wall of said cylinder and slightly spaced from the adjacent end of the induction tube to produced a lateral port opening.

11. In a device of the kind described, a cylinder providing a condensing chamber having an outlet leading therefrom, a liquid to seal said outlet, an induction tube having a portion projecting into the condensing chamber and for connection with a pipe bowl to direct smoke from the bowl into the condensing chamber on its way to the outlet, a projection on the inner wall of said cylinder that is in line with the induction tube and said projecting being slightly spaced from the adjacent end of the induction tube to provide a lateral port opening from said induction tube.

l2. A smoking appliance comprising a pipe bowl, a hollow stem and a mouthpiece, an induction tube in the stem and connected to the pipe bowl, a partition in the stem through which said induction tube projects, an outlet through said partition, a liquid in the stem to seal the outlet, a cylinder telescoping over the partition to form a condensing chamber and an open ended trap, said condensing chamber enclosing a portion of the induction tube.

13. In a device of the kind described, a smoking appliance including a tobacco chamber, a hollow stem constituting a liquid chamber, a mouthpiece, a partition in said hollow stem, an induction tube connected with the tobacco chamber and passing through the partition, an outlet tube carried by the partition and projecting towards the tobacco chamber and an eduction tube carried by the mouthpiece, in combination with a cylinder for use as a measure to insure the proper quantity of liquid for the liquid chamber and telescopical over the partition to Vform a condensing chamber with which both the induction and outlet tubes communicate.

FRANCIS H. CULLEN. 

